While many people will use the terms ‘dry cleaning’ and ‘laundering’ interchangeable, there are specific differences. The main difference between the two tasks is that dry cleaning does not use water in the washing process, whereas laundering does use water. The majority of dry cleaners will utilise chemical solvents instead of water to clean an article of clothing or item.
Nowadays, chemical solvents are no longer considered hazardous because they are recycled; however, this is not necessarily true. In fact, many of these chemical substances continue to be extremely toxic and many dry cleaning companies hire hazardous waste companies to dispose of the used solvents. Laundering, on the other hand, does not utilise chemicals; however, the water and soap cannot be reused and the process is not suitable to manage severe stains.
So, how do you know which is the most beneficial for your laundry needs? If you are facing a particular stain situation or require specific clothing cleaning, how do you choose the most suitable alternative? This article will provide information on the pros and cons of each technique to help you identify which is best when dry cleaning vs laundromats.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Dry Cleaning?
1. The Pros
• Convenience
One of the greatest benefits to hiring any dry cleaning service is the convenience. Individuals living stressful lives may find washing their clothes constantly a hassle, but by using the dry cleaner it is possible to clean the items without a concern. All you need to do is drop the items at the dry cleaner on the way to work and pick them up on the way home.
• Thoroughness
In addition to thoroughness for complex stain removal, professional dry cleaning services will also ensure correct finishing for all clothing and dry cleaned items. A high quality dry cleaning facility will offer inspections to ensure the work is done rigorously and according to standards. For example, the items will be pressed removing all wrinkles before handing back to the customers.
• Innovative Equipment
Reputable dry cleaning vs laundromat services are beneficial because they use innovative equipment. The cleaners are typically equipped with the latest cleaning technologies in their industry; therefore, they will provide you with the most updated service. Regardless of the type of fabric, a company with innovative machinery will know exactly what to do to prevent colour bleeding, changes in texture and garment shrinkage.
• Removal Of Smells
While many dry cleaning facilities offer general services, there are dry cleaners that specialise in the removal of odours caused by mud, smoke or other aspects. Some cleaners may make use of chemical solvents to remove the odour, but there are others that opt for ozone generators to oxidise the smell. This is the safer and more eco-friendly alternative.
• Extending The Garment Life
Contrary to popular belief, the use of dry cleaning services does not lead to a shorter garment lifespan. In fact, the care of the item by dry cleaners can extend the life of the garment and remove any damage caused to the clothes. Chemical solvents are thought to damage the fabrics, but this is completely untrue if the ‘greener’ options are used.
• Storage Of Clothing
In addition to dry cleaning services, there are dry cleaning companies that offer garment storage facilities. This is advantageous because it allows people to house out-of-season items in the units. The units are designed to protect the items from outdoor variables.
2. The Cons
• The Cost
As with many services, the cost of dry cleaning is a point of contention. If you are searching for a high quality dry cleaning facility to treat many garments, the cost will be expensive; however, it can also be considered a long-term investment. You may pay a fee for the cleaning or pay several fees for new clothes or rugs.
• Dangerous Solvents
A second con is the chemical solvents used and the safety of these items. Concerns over the use of these solvents constantly resurface and many dry cleaners are starting to use more eco-friendly alternatives.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Laundering?
1. The Pros
• Affordability
When choosing between dry cleaning vs laundromat services, it is seen that laundering is far more beneficial based on affordability. In today’s society all individuals are trying to save money and this is one method of being frugal. If you take a look at the cost of dry cleaning services and cost of laundering machines, it only makes sense to complete the laundry yourself via coin-operated laundromats.
• Convenience
While dry cleaning services offer the convenience of cleaning your clothes for you, the laundry service can also be convenient by arranging a laundry schedule to meet your needs. For example, if you require laundry to be completed on a certain day, you can tell this to the laundry service and they will fit it into a schedule to meet the need. As long as you provide them with the dirty laundry and collect the clean clothing, you will not need to deal with your dirty laundry.
• Service
In all honesty, not all people are skilled when it comes to laundry services. Some people will end up spoiling clothes instead of cleaning them, and this is merely due to a lack of experience. if this has happened to you, you may associate pain and distress with laundry. A laundry service is useful because it will help avoid any of these situations using experienced professionals to complete the tasks.
• Speed
The majority of laundry services will collect and return laundry within a stipulated time frame. This is highly beneficial for people who are travelling for business or pleasure. If, however, there is an emergency where laundry needs to be ‘sped up’, it is possible to order an emergency service. This will cost more, but it can provide the desired results in a record time.
2. The Cons
• Finding Special Feature Services
Laundromats do not necessarily present with any major disadvantages, but all items have cons. The con to a laundromat is that it can be difficult to find a laundry service offering specific needs. For example, if a person is searching for a company to handle a specific type of stain or deal with a certain type of fabric, this can be more difficult. In these cases, it may be recommended to find a dry cleaning facility instead.
• Errors Are Common
Whereas dry cleaning services take time to double-check their techniques, errors are common in laundry services. The laundry service is not different to you completing your own laundry; the only difference is that someone else is doing it. When using this service, you must be willing to accept problems in the service with delayed orders or incorrect issues. Once good thing about these errors is that they can be reduced by choosing a reputable laundromat.
What Is The Difference Between Dry Cleaning And Laundering?
Dependent on the fabric and the dirt, it is possible to either dry clean or use a laundromat to clean one’s clothes. Professional cleaners in both instances – dry cleaning vs laundromats – will utilise cleaning equipment; however, choosing the ideal option does require some review of the methods. Above was a review of the pros and cons for each design, but below is a brief summary of the main differences between the two methods.
1. Chemical Solvents
Dry cleaning is known as ‘dry’ cleaning because it uses chemical solvents instead of water to rinse the garments when cleaning. The traditional laundering procedure will immerse the items in water.
Once the items are ‘rinsed’, the dry cleaning procedure will use another type of chemical solvent to remove any stains or grease from the item. The chemical used is known as perchloroethylene. Laundering, in converse, uses less toxic substances for washing clothes including detergents, soaps and softeners.
2. Using A Washing Machine
After being washed, both procedures will send the garments to a machine and use a process called tumbling for further cleaning. The solvents or soaps mix with the garments to clean any grime or dirt. For laundering, the clothes are cleaned during the agitation motion and will be placed in a spin cycle to rinse the garments of soapy water. Afterwards, they are dried in a drying machine or hang-dried. Dry cleaning clothes are also dried in this manner.
3. Pressed To Straighten
All cleaned clothes, both dry cleaned and laundered, will be pressed to straighten before they are delivered. As can be seen, each has been treated in a fairly similar way with the primary difference being that dry cleaning does not utilise water.
Final Words On The Matter
Cleaning one’s clothes is an important task to complete and many people opt for laundry services in either dry cleaning or laundromat options. Before choosing which facility to choose, it is important that you know the pros and cons of each style. By knowing the pros and cons, you can find the style that is best suited to your needs.
